Angband is a freeware computer dungeon exploration game based (loosely) on the books of J.R.R.Tolkien. You explore a very deep dungeon, kill monsters, try to equip yourself with the best weapons and armor you can find, and finally face Morgoth - "The Dark Enemy".
Angband has a very long history. It started 1990 as an improved and "Tolkienized" variant of Moria. Moria itself was created in 1985 and was inspired by Rogue (from the late 70s). Countless changes were introduced by many programmers on the way to the current versions of Angband.

Ben Harrison, the previous maintainer, cleaned up the source code and made it easy to enhance and port to the different computer systems. The clean, well commented and modular source is one of the reasons for its popularity and for the number of variants and other extensions available.

It's addictive, very addictive. Your REAL life will be influenced by playing! Don't say I didn't warn you! Angband was originally text-based, but graphical versions are now available for almost every computer system. Some Angband players still use the old ASCII-based graphics. There are even a few sound effects available for multimedia freaks ;-).

The original name "Angband" was created by J.R.R. Tolkien in the stories about "Middle Earth". Angband was a mighty fortified citadel originally constructed by Morgoth (Melkor) in the earliest days of the world as an outlying fortress to his northern stronghold of Utumno. Utumno was destroyed by the Valar, and Morgoth imprisoned in Valinor for three ages, but on his return to Middle-earth, he took Angband as the seat of his power, and raised the towers of Thangorodrim above its gates.

Angband was besieged by the Noldor during the early part of the First Age, but the Siege of Angband was broken at the Dagor Bragollach. It was finally destroyed by the forces of the Valar at the end of the First Age, in the War of the Wrath.

The details of the story can be found in J.R.R. Tolkien's book "The Silmarillion". You can also take a look at the entry for Angband in The Encyclopedia of Arda.

Version 3.1.2v2:

Gameplay changes

Make paralysis non-cumulative (you can't be paralysed more if you're already paralysed) (#783)

New algorithm for device failure rates, and display those rates during the inspect/aim/use/zap commands (#483, #715, #1048)